5. India’s exports to Myanmar, though small, range from primary commodities to manufactured products. Primary and semi-finished steel along with steel bars and rods constitute over one third of India’s exports. Coupled with metals, this commodity accounted for 30% of India’s exports to Myanmar in 2001-02. Pharmaceuticals are the next most important item and accounted for 17.70% of India’s exports to Myanmar in 2001-02. Indian drugs and pharmaceuticals have established a significant market presence and major Indian pharmaceutical companies like Ranbaxy and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories are represented in the country. Export of plant and machinery and consumer goods, though small, is showing promise.

6. Myanmar is India’s gateway to ASEAN as it is the only ASEAN country which has a land and maritime border with India. After becoming a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992, a full dialogue partner in 1995 and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996 and the launch of India-ASEAN Summits in the year 2002, the signing of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between India and ASEAN in 2003 is a watershed in this growing relationship. Besides, it is worth noting that the common membership of sub-regional organizations such as BIMST-EC and Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) provides further avenues of mutual cooperation. On the other hand, India could become Myanmar’s window to the West. India can be the interface for Myanmar with the rest of SAARC. India has also forged strong economic ties with Central Asia, West Asia, the Russian Federation, European Union and the US. Myanmar can also benefit from these links.

7. A systematic and synergetic policy would need to be drawn up in which the two countries would have to identify their strengths and requirements and then work towards mutual benefit. India’s strength in the field of Information Technology is acknowledged the world over. India is in the process of providing substantive assistance to Myanmar in this area. Similarly, some of India’s indigenously developed communication technology which has been tried and tested in rural areas is being transferred to Myanmar. India has also developed home-grown pharmaceutical industry. Another area of India’s strength is in the field of light engineering goods. The quality of our power generators, transmission equipment, textile machinery, bicycles and bicycle parts meets international standards. Another area of India’s expertise is medical care and human resource development. Indian hospitals provide multi-therapy and rehabilitation at costs which are a fraction of those in Europe and US. Similarly, India’s educational institutions are providing excellent training facilities at low costs.